Pubdate: Wed, 08 Feb 2012
Source: Peninsula News Review (CN BC)
Copyright: 2012 Black Press
Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/x9fPSyOK
Website: http://www.bclocalnews.com/vancouver_island_south/peninsulanewsreview/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1373
Author: Robert Sharpe
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v12/n084/a04.html

PROHIBITION IS THE REASON BEHIND RISKY POT GROW OPS

Re: Neighbours key to safety (Red Coat Corner, Jan. 27)

Regarding Cpl. Chris Swain's column, hazardous marijuana grow 
operations are a direct result of marijuana prohibition. Legitimate 
farmers do not steal electricity to grow produce in the basements of 
rented homes.

If legal, growing marijuana would be less profitable than farming 
tomatoes. As it stands, the war on drugs distorts market forces such 
that big money grows on little trees.

Canadian policymakers should ignore the reefer madness hysteria of 
the U.S. and instead to look their own Senate for guidance. In the 
words of Senator Pierre Claude Nolin, "Scientific evidence 
overwhelmingly indicates that cannabis is substantially less harmful 
than alcohol and should be treated not as a criminal issue, but as a 
social and public health issue."

Robert Sharpe

Arlington, Va
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